System and method for power distribution optimization

ABSTRACT

An illustrative embodiment disclosed herein is method for power distribution optimization. In some embodiments, the method includes determining an efficiency for each power block of a plurality of power blocks of a power distribution optimization system, determining a characteristic for each power block, determining a power to provide, selecting a first percentage of the power that a first power block is to provide and a second percentage of the power that a second power block is to provide at least based on the efficiency for each power block, the characteristic for each power block, and the power to provide, wherein the first percentage of the power is greater than the second percentage of the power, and sending a dispatch command to cause the first power block to provide the first percentage of the power and the second power block to provide the second percentage of the power.

BACKGROUND

Battery storage technology can ensure that homes and businesses can bepowered by green energy even when the sun isn't shining, or the wind hasstopped blowing. Battery storage, or battery energy storage systems(BESS), are devices that can enable energy from renewables, like solarand wind, to be stored and then released when customers or offtakers mayneed power.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to energy storagesystems, and more particularly to a system and method for powerdistribution optimization.

An illustrative embodiment disclosed herein is a power distributionoptimization system. The system includes a plurality of power blocks.Each power block of the plurality of power blocks includes a powerconditioning system and at least one battery coupled to the powerconditioning system. The system includes an energy management apparatuscoupled to the plurality of power blocks. The energy managementapparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory includesprogrammed instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause theenergy management apparatus to determine an efficiency for each powerblock of the plurality of power blocks and determine a characteristicfor each power block of the plurality of power blocks. In someembodiments, the characteristic is one or more of thermal behavior, ahealth state, a balancing state, forecasted usage, or an operation cost.In some embodiments, the memory includes the programmed instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, cause the energy managementapparatus to determine a power to provide and select a first percentageof the power that a first power block of the plurality of power blocksis to provide and a second percentage of the power that a second powerblock of the plurality of power blocks is to provide at least based onthe efficiency for each power block of the plurality of power blocks,the characteristic for each power block of the plurality of powerblocks, and the power to provide. In some embodiments, the firstpercentage of the power is greater than the second percentage of thepower. In some embodiments, the memory includes the programmedinstructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the energymanagement apparatus to send a dispatch command to cause the first powerblock of the plurality of power blocks to provide the first percentageof the power and the second power block of the plurality of power blocksto provide the second percentage of the power.

Another illustrative embodiment disclosed herein is a non-transitorycomputer readable medium. In some embodiments, the medium includesinstructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor todetermine an efficiency for each power block of the plurality of powerblocks and determine a characteristic for each power block of theplurality of power blocks. In some embodiments, the characteristic isone or more of thermal behavior, a health state, a balancing state,forecasted usage, or an operation cost. In some embodiments, the mediumincludes the instructions that, when executed by the processor, causethe processor to determine a power to provide and select a firstpercentage of the power that a first power block of the plurality ofpower blocks is to provide and a second percentage of the power that asecond power block of the plurality of power blocks is to provide atleast based on the efficiency for each power block of the plurality ofpower blocks, the characteristic for each power block of the pluralityof power blocks, and the power to provide. In some embodiments, thefirst percentage of the power is greater than the second percentage ofthe power. In some embodiments, the medium includes the instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send adispatch command to cause the first power block of the plurality ofpower blocks to provide the first percentage of the power and the secondpower block of the plurality of power blocks to provide the secondpercentage of the power.

Another illustrative embodiment disclosed herein is a method. In someembodiments, the method includes determining, by a processor, anefficiency for each power block of the plurality of power blocks anddetermining, by the processor, a characteristic for each power block ofthe plurality of power blocks. In some embodiments, the characteristicis one or more of thermal behavior, a health state, a balancing state,forecasted usage, or an operation cost. In some embodiments, the methodincludes determining, by the processor, a power to provide andselecting, by the processor, a first percentage of the power that afirst power block of the plurality of power blocks is to provide and asecond percentage of the power that a second power block of theplurality of power blocks is to provide at least based on the efficiencyfor each power block of the plurality of power blocks, thecharacteristic for each power block of the plurality of power blocks,and the power to provide. In some embodiments, the first percentage ofthe power is greater than the second percentage of the power. In someembodiments, the method includes sending, by the processor, a dispatchcommand to cause the first power block of the plurality of power blocksto provide the first percentage of the power and the second power blockof the plurality of power blocks to provide the second percentage of thepower.

Further details of aspects, objects, and advantages of the disclosureare described below in the detailed description, drawings, and claims.Both the foregoing general description and the following detaileddescription are exemplary and explanatory and are not intended to belimiting as to the scope of the disclosure. Particular embodiments mayinclude all, some, or none of the components, elements, features,functions, operations, or steps of the embodiments disclosed above. Thesubject matter which can be claimed comprises not only the combinationsof features as set out in the attached claims but also any othercombination of features in the claims, wherein each feature mentioned inthe claims can be combined with any other feature or combination ofother features in the claims. Furthermore, any of the embodiments andfeatures described or depicted herein can be claimed in a separate claimand/or in any combination with any embodiment or feature described ordepicted herein or with any of the features of the attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an energy storage system, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an energy management apparatus, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a battery efficiency plot, in accordance with someembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for optimizing powerdistribution, in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block-flow diagram of a method for optimizing powerdistribution, in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the following description and appended claims, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with thedisclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of itsscope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity anddetail through use of the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of thepresent disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated inthe figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in awide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitlycontemplated and make part of this disclosure.

Embodiments lacking the improvements disclosed herein enable all thepower blocks, and all the batteries therein, to provide power, andequally allocate the power signals among the power blocks. Such a schememay result in excessive power losses and/or a reduction of a lifetime ofthe batteries. Disclosed herein are embodiments of a distributionoptimization system, apparatus and method that unevenly allocates realor reactive power signals among power blocks based on the real orreactive power efficiency. Advantageously, some of the embodimentsdisclosed herein reduce power losses in providing power to the load byrunning all the enabled power blocks at or near their maximum powerefficiency.

Further disclosed herein are embodiments of a distribution optimizationsystem, apparatus and method that unevenly allocates real or reactivepower signals among power blocks based on different performancecharacteristics, state of charge, state of health, temperature profile,state of balancing, forecasted usage, operation cost, and/or other“vitals” of each of the power blocks. The system, apparatus, and methodmay unevenly allocate real or reactive power signals among power blocksbased on one or more of these characteristics in addition to the real orreactive power efficiency. Advantageously, some of the embodimentsdisclosed herein reduce power losses and reduce the likelihood of apower block failure by more frequently running power blocks that have abetter performance characteristics or state of health.

Further disclosed herein are embodiments of a distribution optimizationsystem, apparatus and method that balances the state of charge of apower block by charging the power block at or up to a higher level thanother power blocks, or discharging down to a lower level than otherpower blocks if the power block includes a difference of a maximumbattery cell voltage and a minimum battery cell voltage is above athreshold. In some embodiments, in response to detecting that a state ofcharge among battery cells within a power block is unbalanced, theapparatus and method charges the power block until the battery cellswithin the power block are balanced. Advantageously, some of theembodiments disclosed herein reduce power losses by avoiding thescenario of unbalanced power blocks, or some of the batteries therein,discharging excessively earlier than some other power blocks. Such ascenario can cause the other power blocks to have to operate at a lowerefficiency, or accumulate more wear-and-tear, during the time theunbalanced power blocks do not provide power due to being discharged.

Further disclosed herein are embodiments of a distribution optimizationsystem, apparatus, and method that allows some power blocks to chargewhile the other power blocks discharge. The system, apparatus, andmethod can alternate which power blocks charge and which power blocksdischarge. In some embodiments, such techniques can be beneficial tobattery health.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an energy storage system 100, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The energystorage system 100 may be referred to as a power plant.

The system 100 includes a number of power blocks 102. For example, thesystem 100 shows a power block 102A, a power block 102B, and a powerblock 102C, although the system 100 may include greater than or lessthan three power blocks without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. In some embodiments, the power block 102 is the smallestdispatchable unit. The power blocks 102 are adapted to store energy suchas solar energy, generate direct-current (DC) power (signal), convertthe DC power to alternate-current (AC) power (signal), and send the ACpower to devices connected to the system 100 or to a power gridconnected to the system 100. Each power block 102 can be referred to asa battery energy storage system (BESS).

The system 100 includes an energy management apparatus 104, which isadapted to optimize power distribution. For example, the energymanagement apparatus 104 adapts the power blocks 102 so that power isunevenly allocated among the power blocks. The energy managementapparatus 104 can adapt the power blocks 102 so that some of the powerblocks 102 are sending AC power to devices or the grid, and some of thepower blocks 102 are disabled. In some embodiments, the energymanagement apparatus 104 ensures that, over time, different power blocks102 are selected to send power. More details of the energy managementapparatus 104 are provided below in describing FIG. 2.

The system 100 includes an auxiliary load panel 106, which is adapted tosupply power to a number of power conditioning systems 110. In someembodiments, the auxiliary load panel 106 can supply power to othercomponents that provide control or conditioning functionality for thesystem 100. In some embodiments, the auxiliary load panel 106 is poweredby the power grid that is coupled to the system 100. In someembodiments, the auxiliary load panel 106 is powered by one or more ofthe power blocks 102. More details of powering the auxiliary load panel106 with the power blocks 102 are provided below in describing FIG. 2.

The system 100 includes a number of battery cells 108. The battery cells108 include multiple battery strings. For example, the power block 102Aincludes a battery string 108A, the power block 102B includes a batterystring 108B, and the power block 102C includes a battery string 108C,although the system 100 may include greater than or less than threebattery strings while remaining in the scope of the present disclosure.In some embodiments, the battery string is the smallest controllableunit. Each battery string includes two or more battery cells. Forexample, the battery string 108A includes battery cells 108A1 and 108A2,the battery string 108B includes battery cells 108B1 and 108B2, and thebattery string 108C includes battery cells 108C1 and 108C2. The batterycells of a battery string can be coupled in parallel. In someembodiments, the battery cell is the smallest observable unit. Thebattery cells 108 are adapted to store energy such as solar energy andgenerate DC power based on the stored energy. In some embodiments, thebattery cells 108 can be coupled to solar panels to store the solarenergy received by the solar panels.

Each battery cell 108, battery string, and/or power block 102 can becharacterized by its efficiency, its charge state (a.k.a. state ofcharge), its balancing state, its health state (a.k.a. state of health),its health state degradation, its efficiency degradation, its chargerate, its discharge rate, its nameplate power, its forecasted usage, itsoperation costs, and its thermal behavior. The efficiency can be definedas a ratio of the DC power provided to the power conditioning system 110over the DC power that can be theoretically generated from the storedenergy assuming no loss. The power block 102 can be characterized byboth its real power efficiency and its reactive power efficiency. Thecharge state can be defined as the amount of charge currently stored.The balancing state of a power block, or battery string therein, can bedefined as the difference in charge state among different battery cellsof the power block. For example, the balancing state may be a differenceof a maximum battery cell voltage and a minimum battery cell voltageamong the battery cells of the power block. Voltage may be a proxy forcharge. The health state (e.g., health status) of the power block 102can be defined as a throughput of the power block, an age of the powerblock 102 (e.g., length of time that the power block 102 or battery cell108 has been in operation, time since installation, time sinceactivation, time enabled since installation/activation, etc.), an amountof wear-and-tear of the power block 102, a number of times turned on, anumber of times charged, and the like. The health state degradation canbe defined as a loss in state of health per an amount of time.Efficiency degradation can be defined as a loss of efficiency per anamount of time or per usage. For example, the efficiency degradation maybe a loss of efficiency per year or per the number of times a powerblock 102 or battery cell 108 had gone through a charge and dischargecycle. The nameplate power can be defined as a theoretical maximumamount of power that the power block 102 or battery cell 108 canprovide. The charge rate can be defined as rate at which the power block102 or battery cell 108 is charging (e.g., storing/adding charge). Thedischarge rate can be defined as rate at which the power block 102 orbattery cell 108 is discharging (e.g., releasing/losing charge). Thenameplate power can be referred to as the nameplate capacity. Thethermal behavior can be defined as a temperature or an amount of heatthe battery cell generates and the temperature rise and drop behaviors.Although only efficiency, its charge state, its balancing state, itshealth state, its health state degradation, its efficiency degradation,its charge rate, its discharge rate, its nameplate power, and itsthermal behavior, its forecasted usage, and its operation costs aredisclosed, the power blocks 102 or battery cells 108 can becharacterized by other characteristics while remaining within the scopeof the present disclosure.

The system 100 includes a number of power conditioning systems (PCSs)110. For example, the power block 102A includes a PCS 110A, the powerblock 102B includes a PCS 110B, and the power block 102C includes a PCS110C, although the system 100 may include greater than or less thanthree of the PCSs 110 while remaining in the scope of the presentdisclosure. Each of the PCSs 110 can be coupled to one or more batterycells 108. For example, the PCS 110A is coupled to the battery string108A, the PCS 110B is coupled to the battery string 108B, and the PCS110C is coupled to the battery string 108C. Each of the PCSs 110includes an inverter adapted to convert (e.g., invert) the DC power toAC power. In some embodiments, each inverter is a bi-directionalinverter that can convert DC power to AC power as well as convert (e.g.,rectify) AC power to DC power. In some embodiments, each of the PCSsinclude a cooling fan or other component that controls or conditions oneor more of the battery cells 108. Each of the PCSs 110 may be coupled tothe auxiliary load panel 106.

The system 100 includes a number of transformers 112. For example, thepower block 102A includes a transformer 112A, the power block 102Bincludes a transformer 112B, and the power block 102C includes atransformer 112C, although the system 100 may include greater than orless than three of the transformers 112 while remaining in the scope ofthe present disclosure. Each of the transformers 112 can be coupled to arespective one of the PCSs 110. For example, the transformer 112A iscoupled to the PCS 110A, the transformer 112B is coupled to the PCS110B, and the transformer 112C is coupled to the PCS 110C. Thetransformers 112 are adapted to step-up or step-down a voltage of the ACpower.

In some embodiments, the system 100 includes a number of switches 114.For example, the power block 102A can include a switch 114A, the powerblock 102B can include a switch 114B, and the power block 102C caninclude a switch 114C, although the system 100 may include greater thanor less than three of the switches 114 while remaining in the scope ofthe present disclosure. Each of the switches 114 can be coupled to arespective one of the transformers 112. For example, the switch 114A canbe coupled to the transformer 112A, the switch 114B can be coupled tothe transformer 112B, and the switch 114C can be coupled to thetransformer 112C. The transformers 112 are adapted to step-up orstep-down a voltage of the AC power.

In some embodiments, the system 100 includes a bus 116 that is adaptedto carry and distribute AC power from the power blocks 102 to one ormore loads. The term “load” herein encompasses locally connected assetssuch as the auxiliary load panel 106 and assets connected through thegrid. The bus 116 is coupled to each of the transformers 112, eitherdirectly, or via the respective switches 114. The bus 116 is coupled tothe auxiliary load panel 106. The bus 116 may be coupled to one or moredevices and the power grid.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an energy management apparatus200, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Theenergy management apparatus 200 can be an implementation of the energymanagement apparatus 104 of FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the energymanagement apparatus 200 includes a processor 202. Processor 202 isconfigured to execute computer program code, scripts, applications, orservices, such as a battery monitor 208, a distribution optimizer 210,and a command generator 212, encoded in computer-readable storage medium204 (referred to herein as storage medium 204). In one or moreembodiments, processor 202 is a central processing unit (CPU), amulti-processor, a distributed processing system, an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), a process, and/or a suitableprocessing unit.

In some embodiments, the energy management apparatus 200 includes thestorage medium 204. In one or more embodiments, the storage medium 204is an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, and/or asemiconductor system (or apparatus or device). For example, the storagemedium 204 includes a semiconductor or solid-state memory, a randomaccess memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a magnetic tape, aremovable computer diskette, a rigid magnetic disk, and/or an opticaldisk.

In some embodiments, the storage medium 204 includes the battery monitor208, which can determine and monitor characteristics (efficiency, chargestate, health state, voltage, or some other characteristic or quantity)of the power blocks 102 or the battery cells 108 in the power blocks102. In some embodiments, the battery monitor 208 determines acharacteristic of each of the battery cells 108. In some embodiments,the battery monitor 208 selects a number (e.g., a sample) of the batterycells 108 in the power blocks 102 and determines the characteristics ofeach of the selected battery cells 108. In some embodiments, one batterycell 108 from each power block 102 can be selected. In some embodiments,the battery monitor 208 determines an average of the characteristics ofthe (e.g., selected) battery cells 108 in the power blocks 102. Anaverage of a characteristic can be determined by summing thecharacteristic of the one or more battery cells 108 and dividing the sumby the one or more battery cells 108.

In some embodiments, the battery monitor 208 determines acharacteristics of each of the power blocks 102. For example, thebattery monitor 208 determines the characteristic of the power block 102by determining the characteristic of all of the battery cells 108 inthat block 102. The batteries can be determined/measured in aggregate orindividually and then the characteristic values summed together. Thebattery monitor 208 may determine the characteristic of each of thepower blocks 102 by determining the characteristic of a selected numberof battery cells 108 in that block 102.

In some embodiments, the battery monitor 208 determines efficiency(e.g., an efficiency curve) for each of the power blocks 102, (e.g.,selected) battery cells 108, and/or each of the power conditioningsystems 110 in the power blocks 102. Referring now to FIG. 3, a batteryefficiency plot 300 is illustrated, in accordance with some embodimentsof the present disclosure. The efficiency plot 300 includes a curve 302that represents the efficiency 304 versus the percentage of nameplatepower 306 that the battery cell 108 is supplying (e.g., providing,drawing, etc.) to a load. The efficiency plot 300 includes a range 308that represents the range of percentages of nameplate power 306 at whichthe efficiency 304 is within a maximum range 310. The maximum range 310may be referred to as a maximum. In some embodiments, the batterymonitor 208 determines efficiency of the battery cells 108 and/or eachof the power conditioning systems 110 across the nameplate powerpercentages by causing the battery cell 108 and/or each of the powerconditioning system 110 to provide power in accordance a nameplate powerpercentage and measuring the efficiency at that nameplate powerpercentage. This process can be repeated for a number of nameplate powerpercentages and for each of the (e.g., selected) battery cells 108and/or each of the power conditioning systems 110. In some embodiments,the battery monitor 208 can determine efficiency with respect to realpower and efficiency with respect to reactive power. The battery monitor208 may control an instrument that measures the efficiency.

In some embodiments, the battery monitor 208 determines a charge state(e.g., state of charge, an amount of charge stored) for each of thepower blocks 102 or (e.g., selected) battery cells 108 of the powerblocks 102. In some embodiments, the battery monitor 208 determines thecharge state by measuring a voltage of a battery cell 108 andmultiplying the capacitance of the battery cell 108 by the voltage ofthe battery cell 108. In some embodiments, the battery monitor 208determines the voltage of the battery cell 108 and stores the voltage asa proxy for the charge state. In some embodiments, the battery monitor208 determines a balancing state for each power block 102 by determininga difference of a highest charge state (e.g., the highest battery cellvoltage within the power block 102) and the lowest charge state (e.g.,the lowest battery cell voltage within the power block 102). Generally,post-processing of the measured/determined data (such as determining adifference) can be performed by the battery monitor 208, thedistribution optimizer 210, which is described below, or some othercomponent of the energy management apparatus 104. The battery monitor208 may control an instrument such as a voltmeter that determines thecharge state.

In some embodiments, the battery monitor 208 determines a health statefor each of the power blocks 102 or (e.g., selected) battery cells 108of the power blocks 102. In some embodiments, the battery monitor 208determines the health state by storing a time of installation oractivation and determining a difference between current time and thestored time. In some embodiments, the battery monitor 208 determines thehealth state by running a timer that is initialized to zero when thebattery cell 108 is installed or activated. The battery monitor 208 mayrun the timer when the battery cell 108 is enabled, or when the batterycell 108 is either enabled or idle. In some embodiments, the batterymonitor 208 determines the health state by measuring throughput of thebattery cell 108. The throughput may be defined as a total current orenergy going into the battery cell 108, cumulative over time.Alternatively, the throughput may be defined as a total current orenergy coming out of the battery cell 108, cumulative over time or theaggregate of both charge and discharge throughput. The battery monitor208 may measure the throughput by measuring a current at a predeterminedinterval or event and, upon measuring the current, adding the current toa total current for that battery cell 108.

In some embodiments, the battery monitor 208 determines a health statedegradation and/or efficiency degradation for each of the power blocks102 or (e.g., selected) battery cells 108 of the power blocks 102. Insome embodiments, the battery monitor 208 determines the health statedegradation by maintaining a historical health state of the battery cell108, measuring a current health state of the battery cell 108, anddetermining a ratio of the current health state and the historicalhealth state. The historical health state may be the health state thatwas determined when the battery cell 108 was installed or at some otherpoint during a life cycle of the battery cell 108.

In some embodiments, the battery monitor 208 determines thermal behaviorfor each of the power blocks 102 or (e.g., selected) battery cells 108of the power blocks 102. For example, the battery monitor 208 determinesone or more of a temperature or a change in temperature (e.g.,temperature derivative) for each of the power blocks 102 or (e.g.,selected) battery cells 108 of the power blocks 102.

The battery monitor 208 may store the nameplate power percentage, theefficiency, charge state, the efficiency degradation, and/or any othercharacteristic for each power block 102 or battery cell 108 for whichthe characteristic is measured in a memory or storage medium, forexample in an LUT (look up table) 214 or other data structure within thememory or storage medium. Each battery cell 108 can have its own LUT 214or other data structure, or groups of battery cells (e.g., the batterycells of the same battery string, the same power block 102, or samesystem 100) can share an LUT 214 or other data structure. The chargestate and the efficiency degradation may be stored in the same LUT 214or other data structure in which the efficiency is stored, or the chargestate and the efficiency degradation may be stored in one or moreseparate LUTs 214 or other data structures. Although the battery monitor208 measures and stores efficiency, charge state, and efficiencydegradation, the battery monitor 208 may measure and store othercharacteristics of the battery cell 108 without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

Referring now back to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, the storage medium204 includes the distribution optimizer 210, which can be adapted tooptimize a distribution of power from the battery cells 108 of FIG. 1 toan external load such as one or more devices coupled to the system 100of FIG. 1 or to a power grid. For example, the distribution optimizer210 can unevenly allocate power among various power blocks 102 and/orbattery cells 108. The optimization distribution can be performed basedon accessing the LUTs 214 or other data structures including thecharacteristics of the battery cells 108 stored by the battery monitor208. In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 is computerprogram code, a script, an application, a service, or other software,firmware, or hardware.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 determines athreshold above which any efficiency is deemed within the range ofmaximum efficiency 310. The threshold can be predetermined or configuredby the distribution optimizer 210 or predetermined or configured by auser or administrator accessing or programming the distributionoptimizer 210 directly or via a user interface.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 determines a rangeof percentages of a nameplate power in which the efficiency of thebattery cells 108 in the power blocks 102 is within the range of maximumefficiency. The distribution optimizer 210 may determine the nameplatepower percentages at which the efficiency is greater than the thresholdby accessing the one or more LUTs 214 or other data structures. Todetermine an efficiency at a nameplate power percentage at which ameasurement was not made, the distribution optimizer 210 can interpolatethe efficiency using measured efficiency at least two nameplate powerpercentages (e.g., the nearest two). The distribution optimizer 210 candetermine the range 308 of nameplate power percentages to be withinthose identified nameplate power percentages at which the efficiency isgreater than the threshold.

In some embodiments, distribution optimizer 210 determines the powerthat is to be provided (e.g., to a load) from the battery cells 108. Thedistribution optimizer 210 may determine the power that is to beprovided by measuring or determining a load characteristic (e.g.,voltage, impedance, etc.) and calculating the power that is to beprovided. In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 determinesthe power that is to be provided by providing power and reading how muchpower is provided using a sensor or other instrument.

The distribution optimizer 210 can select a percentage (e.g., amount,portion) of the power that each of the (e.g., selected) power blocks 102(e.g., battery strings) is to provide. The percentage is with referenceto the total power being provided. The percentage can be positive, inwhich case the corresponding power block 102 is discharging, zero,negative, in which case the corresponding power block 102 is charging,or zero, in which case the corresponding power block 102 is neithercharging or discharging. For example, power block 102A can be providing60% of the power, power block 102B can be providing 60% of the power,and power block 102C can be “providing”−20% of the power. In thisexample, only power blocks 102A and 102B are providing power anddischarging and power block 102C is consuming power and charging. Thepower block 102C can be viewed as a locally connected asset in thisscenario.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 selects a firstpercentage of the power that a first power block 102 is to provide tothe load and a second percentage of the power that a second power block102 at least based on the efficiency for each (e.g., selected) batterycell 108 of each power block 102 and the power to be provided to theload. For example, the distribution optimizer 210 selects power blocks102A and 102B to provide 25% each and power block 102C to provide 50%.In some embodiments, the first percentage (e.g., the percentage thatpower block 102C provides) of the power is greater than the secondpercentage of the power (e.g., the percentage that each of the powerblocks 102A and 102B provides).

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 selects a number ofpower blocks 102 to enable such that the number of power blocks 102(e.g., the battery cells 108 therein) provide the determined power tothe load at an efficiency within the range of maximum efficiency 310.(This can be viewed as an extreme example of unevenly allocated power.)For example, the distribution optimizer 210 enables the power block 102Cand disables the power blocks 102A and 102B such that the battery cell108C can provide the power to a load while operating within the range ofwithin the maximum range of efficiency 310. The one or more power blocks102 that are enabled may be selected randomly, using a round-robinapproach, or using one of the considerations discussed below. Thedistribution optimizer 210 may select the power blocks 102 to enable bycirculating each of the power blocks 102 betweenenabled/operating/discharging states, disabled/idle states, and/orcharging states. For example, at a first time, the distributionoptimizer 210 selects the power block 102C and disables/charges powerblocks 102A and 102B; at a second time, the distribution optimizer 210selects the power block 102B and disables/charges power blocks 102A and102C; and, at a third time, the distribution optimizer 210 selects thepower block 102A and disables/charges power blocks 102B and 102C. Insome embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 selects a number ofbattery cells 108 within the number of power blocks 102 to enable suchthat the number of battery cells 108 provide the determined power to theload at an efficiency within the range of maximum efficiency 310. Inother words, the distribution optimizer 210 can select to enable all thebattery cells 108 of a power block 102 or some of the battery cells 108of a power block 102.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 determines a chargestate for each of the power blocks 102 or (e.g., selected) battery cells108 of the power blocks 102. The distribution optimizer 210 maydetermine the charge state by accessing the one or more LUTs 214 orother data structures. The distribution optimizer 210 may rank the powerblocks 102 or battery cells 108 based on the charge state of each powerblock 102 or battery cell 108. The distribution optimizer 210 maydetermine that a first charge stored by each battery cell 108 of a firstpower block 102 is greater than a second charge stored by each batterycell 108 of a second power block 102.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 determines a chargestate for each of the power blocks 102. The distribution optimizer 210may determine that a first charge stored by a first power block 102 isgreater than a second charge stored by a second power block 102. Forexample, the distribution optimizer 210 determines that a first chargestored by the power block 102C is greater than a second charge stored bythe power block 102B.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 selects a number ofpower blocks 102 based on a charge state for each of the (e.g.,selected) battery cells 108 of the power blocks 102. For example, if itis determined that battery cell 108C has a higher charge state thanbattery cells 108A and 108B, and only one of the battery cells 108A-C isused to achieve efficiency in the range of maximum efficiency, then thedistribution optimizer 210 can select the battery cell 108C. Thedistribution optimizer 210 may determine to enable all the battery cells108 in the selected power blocks 102 or to enable some of the batterycells 108 in the selected power blocks 102 based on the charge state ofthe battery cells 108. In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer210 selects a number of power blocks 102 to enable such that the numberof battery cells 108 that are providing the determined power to the loadat an efficiency within the range of maximum efficiency 310 are thebattery cells 108 that have a predetermined charge state (e.g., thehighest charge state, the most charge stored).

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 selects the firstpercentage of the power that the first power block 102 is to provide tothe load and the second percentage of the power that the second powerblock 102 is to provide to the load at least based on the first chargestored by the first power block 102, or each battery cell 108 of thefirst power block 102, and the second charge stored by the second powerblock 102, or each battery cell 108 of the second power block 102. Forexample, the distribution optimizer 210 selects a first percentage ofthe power that the first power block 102C is to provide to the load andthe second percentage of the power that the second power block 102B isto provide to the load.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 selects thepercentage of power to provide from each of the selected power blocks102 to provide based on the charge state of the corresponding batterycells 108. The distribution optimizer 210 can provide a percentage ofpower for a battery cell 108 that is proportional to the charge state ofthe battery cell 108. For example, after the distribution optimizer 210determines to select enable power blocks 102B and 102C and to providepower from battery cells 108B and 108C, the distribution optimizerdecides to provide 60% of the power from battery cell 108B and 40% ofthe power from battery cell 108C because the battery cell 108B has acharge state of 60% of charge capacity and the battery cell 108C has acharge state of 40% of charge capacity. The distribution optimizer 210may select the percentage of power to provide from each of the selectedbattery cells 108 such that the number of battery cells 108 that areproviding the determined power to the load at an efficiency within therange of maximum efficiency 310 are providing a percentage of powerbased on the charge state.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 determines anefficiency, charge state, balancing state, health state, health statedegradation, efficiency degradation, charge rate, discharge rate,thermal behavior, other characteristic, or a combination thereof, foreach of the power blocks 102 or each of the (e.g., selected) batterycells 108 of the power blocks 102. The distribution optimizer 210 maydetermine at least one of the efficiency, charge state, balancing state,health state, health state degradation, efficiency degradation, chargerate, discharge rate, thermal behavior, or other characteristic byaccessing the one or more LUTs 214 or other data structures. In someembodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 selects a number of powerblocks 102 and a number of battery cells 108 based on an efficiency,charge state, balancing state, health state, health state degradation,efficiency degradation, charge rate, discharge rate, thermal behavior,other characteristic, or a combination thereof, for each of the (e.g.,selected) battery cells 108 of the power blocks 102. For example, thedistribution optimizer 210 can select a number of power blocks 102 and anumber of battery cells 108 that based on a combination of a chargestate and a health state such that the number of battery cells 108operate at an efficiency within a range of maximum efficiency. Thedistribution optimizer 210 can generate, for each battery cell, a score(e.g., a cost improvement score) based on one or more of an efficiency,charge state, balancing state, health state, health state degradation,efficiency degradation, charge rate, discharge rate, thermal behavior,or other characteristic, and select the power blocks 102 based on thescore. For example, the distribution optimizer 210 can generate, foreach battery cell 108, a first score based on the charge state (e.g., ahigher charge state corresponds with a higher score) and a second scorebased on the age (e.g., a lower age corresponds with a higher score),add the first score and second score to generate a cost improvementscore for the battery cell 108, add the cost improvement scores of eachof the battery cells 108 in a power block 102 to generate a costimprovement score for the power block 102, and select the power blocks102 with the highest cost improvement score. The first score and thesecond score can be weighted, and the weighted scores can be added togenerate the total score.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 selects thepercentage of power to provide from each of the selected battery cells108 to provide based on the efficiency, charge state, balancing state,health state, health state degradation, efficiency degradation, chargerate, discharge rate, thermal behavior, other characteristic, or acombination thereof. For example, the distribution optimizer 210 canprovide a percentage of power for a power block 102 that is proportionalto the health state of each of the battery cells 108 in the power block102. In another example, the distribution optimizer 210 can generate,for each battery cell 108, a first score based on the charge state and asecond score based on the health state, add the first score and secondscore to generate a total score, and provide power from each power block102 in proportion to the overall score.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 determines that afirst charge stored by a first power block 102, or each battery cell 108of the first power block 102, is greater than a second charge stored bya second power block 102, or each battery cell 108 of the second powerblock 102. In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 selects afirst discharge rate at which the first power block 102 is to dischargeand a second discharge rate at which the second power block 102 is todischarge based on the first charge stored by the first power block 102,or each battery cell 108 of the first power block 102, being higher thanthe second charge stored by the second power block 102, or each batterycell 108 of the second power block 102. In some embodiments, the firstdischarge rate is lower than the second discharge rate. In someembodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 selects a first charge rateat which the first power block 102 is to charge and a second charge rateat which the second power block 102 is to charge based on the firstcharge stored by the first power block 102, or each battery cell 108 ofthe first power block 102, being higher than the second charge stored bythe second power block 102, or each battery cell 108 of the second powerblock 102. In some embodiments, the first charge rate is lower than thesecond charge rate.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 determines that thecharge state of a power block 102 is balanced (e.g., the differencebetween the maximum battery cell charge and the minimum battery cellcharge is below a predetermined threshold, the difference between themaximum battery cell voltage and the minimum battery cell voltage isbelow a predetermined threshold, etc.). In some embodiments, in responseto determining that a state of charge of the power block 102 isbalanced, the distribution optimizer 210 selects the power block 102 toprovide power (e.g., causes the power block 102 to be enabled andprovide power). In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210determines that the charge state of a power block 102 is unbalanced(e.g., the difference between the maximum battery cell charge and theminimum battery cell charge is above a predetermined threshold, thedifference between the maximum battery cell voltage and the minimumbattery cell voltage is above a predetermined threshold, etc.). In someembodiments, in response to determining that a state of charge of thepower block 102 is unbalanced, distribution optimizer 210 selects thepower block 102 to charge (e.g., causes the second power block 102 tocharge until the charge state of the power block 102 is balanced). Insome embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 selects the percentageof power to provide from each of the selected battery cells 108 toprovide based on the balancing state.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 determines that athermal profile is more optimal for a first power block 102 than for asecond power block 102. For example, the distribution optimizer 210determines that a temperature or a change in temperature of a firstpower block 102 is less than a temperature or a change in temperature ofa second power block 102. In some embodiments, the distributionoptimizer 210 selects the percentage of power to provide from each ofthe selected battery cells 108 to provide based on the thermal profile.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 determines that thefirst power block 102 discharges to a first predetermined threshold andthe second power block 102 charges to a second predetermined threshold.In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 selects the firstpercentage of the power that the first power block of the plurality ofpower blocks is to provide and the second percentage of the power thatthe second power block of the plurality of power blocks is to provide atleast based on determining that the first power block of the pluralityof power blocks discharging to the first predetermined threshold and thesecond power block of the plurality of power blocks charging to thesecond predetermined threshold.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 determines that afirst power block 102 is discharging (a.k.a., providing a percentage ofpower greater than zero) and that a second power block 102 is chargingor idling (a.k.a., providing a percentage of power less than or equal tozero). In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 determinesthat the first power block 102 either provides a predetermined amount ofpower or throughput. In some embodiments, in response to determiningthat the first power block 102 either provides a predetermined amount ofpower or throughput, the distribution optimizer 210 selects the firstpower block 102 to charge or to idle, and selects the second power block102 to discharge.

In some embodiments, the storage medium 204 includes the commandgenerator 212, which can be adapted to generate commands, send commandsto an appropriate component, or both. In some embodiments, the commandgenerator 212 generates a dispatch command to enable the selectedbattery cells 108 of the selected power blocks 102 in accordance withthe efficiency, charge state, balancing state, health state, healthstate degradation, efficiency degradation, thermal behavior, othercharacteristic of the battery cell 108, or a combination thereof (suchas in accordance with a cost improvement score). For example, thecommand generator 212 sends a dispatch command to enable a firstpercentage of the power blocks 102 and disable a second percentage ofthe power blocks 102 such that each of the battery cells 108 of thefirst percentage of the power blocks 102 are providing power within therange of percentages of the nameplate power of the respective batterycell of the plurality of power blocks. In some embodiments, the powerblocks 102 selected to be enabled, or the percentages of powers for eachof the (e.g., selected) power blocks 102, can be selected based onefficiency, charge state, balancing state, health state, health statedegradation, efficiency degradation, thermal behavior, othercharacteristic of the battery cell 108, or a combination thereof.Details are discussed with respect to the distribution optimizer 210.

In some embodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 determines an idleperiod for the system 100 (e.g., a period during which the power blocks102 will not provide power to a remotely connected load). In someembodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 determines losses for theidle period (e.g., the power needed to run the auxiliary load panel 106or other components that are enabled during the idle period). In someembodiments, the distribution optimizer 210 selects one or more powerblocks 102 to be enabled during the idle period to account for thelosses during the idle period (e.g., to provide power to the auxiliaryload panel 106 or another locally connected load). In some embodiments,the command generator 212 generates an idle command to disable the powerblocks 102, including the battery cells 108. In some embodiments, thecommand generator 212 generates an idle command to (only) enable the oneor more power blocks 102, during the idle period, sufficient to providepower to the auxiliary load panel 106 (and to disable the remainingpower blocks 102).

In some embodiments, the command generator 212 generates a command inaccordance with a markup language such as extensible markup language(XML) or hypertext markup language (HTML), any language using tags, suchas JavaScript object notation (JSON), or any language using bit-packing.In some embodiments, the command generator 212 sends the command to aninterface such as application programming interface (API).

In some embodiments, the energy management apparatus 200 includes anetwork interface 206. The network interface 206 allows components ofthe energy management apparatus 200 to communicate with each other. Thenetwork interface 206 includes wireless network interfaces such asBluetooth, Wi-Fi, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM),wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), Long-Term Evolution(LTE), or 5G; or wired network interfaces such as Ethernet or UniversalSerial Bus (USB).

In some embodiments, the energy management apparatus 200 includes a bus220. The bus 220 may couple the processor 202, the storage medium 204,and the network interface 206. The bus 220 can include a USB bus, a SCSIbus, a FireWire bus, an Ethernet bus, a Gigabit Ethernet bus, a FibreChannel bus, or a Thunderbolt bus.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block-flow diagram of a method 400 for optimizingpower distribution, in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. Although the method 400 is performed by the energymanagement apparatus 200, other implementations of the energy managementapparatus 104 may perform the method 400 without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

At step 1, the battery monitor 208 determines characteristics of each ofthe battery cells 108 and stores the characteristics in an LUT 214. TheLUT 214 may be located in a storage medium, such as process memory, amemory stick, or a long-term storage device.

At step 2 the distribution optimizer 210 fetches the characteristicsfrom the LUT 214, determines which power blocks 102 (and whichcorresponding battery cells 108) to enable, and how much of the powereach of the (e.g., selected) power blocks 102 is to provide (e.g., to aload), based on the characteristics of each of the battery cells 108 andcommunicates to the command generator 212 one or more of the selectedpower blocks 102, the selected battery cells 108, or the percentage ofprovided power for each of the selected battery cells 108. As an exampleof selecting based on characteristics, the distribution optimizer 210determines that selects power block 102C and disables the power blocks102A and 102B based on determining that the battery cell 108C canprovide the power to a load while operating within the range of withinthe maximum range of efficiency 310 and the battery cell 108C has ahighest charge state. In another example of selecting based oncharacteristics, the distribution optimizer 210 selects power block 102Bto provide a first percentage of the power, selects power block 102C toprovide a second percentage of the power, and disables the power blocks102A based on determining that the battery cells 108B and 108C canprovide the power to a load while operating within the range of withinthe maximum range of efficiency 310, the battery cell 108B has a chargestate of a first amount, and the battery cell 108C has a charge state ofa second amount. In some embodiments, the ratio of the first percentageand the second percentage can be equal to the ratio of the first amountand the second amount.

At step 3, the command generator 212 generates a dispatch command basedon one or more of the selected power blocks 102, the selected batterycells 108, or the percentage of provided power for each of the selectedbattery cells 108. The command generator 212 may send the dispatchcommand to each of the power blocks 102 or to one or more componentsthat control enabling of the power blocks 102, such as the switches 114.At step 4, the power blocks 102 operate in accordance with the dispatchcommand.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a method 500 for optimizing powerdistribution, in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The method 500 may be implemented using, or performed by,the system 100, one or more components (e.g., the energy managementapparatus 104, the battery monitor 208, the distribution optimizer 210,the command generator 212, etc.) of the system 100, a processorassociated with the system 100, or a processor of the one or morecomponents of the system 100. Additional, fewer, or different operationsmay be performed in the method 500 depending on the embodiment.Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of the method500 may be performed in parallel.

At operation 510, the processor (e.g., the processor 202 of the energymanagement apparatus 104) determines an efficiency for each power block(e.g., each of the power blocks 102) of a plurality of power blocks,including at least a first power block and a second power block. In someembodiments, the processor determines a range of percentages of anameplate power for each power block in which an efficiency of therespective power block is in a range of maximum efficiency. Theefficiency can be determined by measuring the efficiency (e.g., viabattery monitor 208) and storing the efficiency in a LUT (e.g., the LUT214) or other data structure from a storage medium, which can beaccessed (e.g., via the distribution optimizer 210).

At operation 520, the processor determines a characteristic for eachpower block of the plurality of power blocks. In some embodiments, thecharacteristic is one or more of thermal behavior, state of health,balancing state, forecasted usage, or an operation cost. At operation530, the processor determines a power to be provided. The power may beprovided to a load. The power may be provided to one or more locallyconnected assets, one or more remotely connected assets, or acombination thereof.

In some embodiments, determines that a first charge stored by the firstpower block of the plurality of power blocks is greater than a secondcharge stored by the second power block of the plurality of powerblocks. In some embodiments, the processor determines that the secondpower block of the plurality of power blocks includes a difference of amaximum battery cell voltage and a minimum battery cell voltage that isgreater than a predetermined threshold. In some embodiments, theprocessor determines that a health state of the first power block of theplurality of power blocks is greater than a health state of the secondpower block of the plurality of power blocks. In some embodiments, theprocessor determines that a temperature of the second power block of theplurality of power blocks is greater than a temperature of the firstpower block of the plurality of power blocks. In some embodiments, theprocessor determines that the first power block of the plurality ofpower blocks discharges to a first predetermined threshold and thesecond block of the plurality of power blocks charges to a secondpredetermined threshold.

At operation 540, the processor selects (e.g., via the distributionoptimizer 210) a first percentage of the power that the first powerblock (e.g., power block 102C) is to provide and a second percentage ofthe power that the second power block (e.g., power block 102B) is toprovide at least based on the efficiency for each power block, thecharacteristic, and the power to be provided. In some embodiments, thefirst percentage of the power is greater than the second percentage ofthe power. In some embodiments, the first and second percentages arepositive. In some embodiments, the first percentage is positive and thesecond percentage is negative. In some embodiments, each of the batterycells of the first and second power blocks are providing power withinthe range of percentages of the nameplate power of the respective powerblock.

In some embodiments, the processor selects the first percentage of thepower that the first power block of the plurality of power blocks is toprovide and the second percentage of the power that the second powerblock of the plurality of power blocks is to provide at least based ondetermining that the first charge stored by the first power block of theplurality of power blocks is greater than the second charge stored bythe second power block of the plurality of power blocks. In someembodiments, the processor selects the first percentage of the powerthat the first power block of the plurality of power blocks is toprovide and the second percentage of the power that the second powerblock of the plurality of power blocks is to provide at least based ondetermining that the second power block of the plurality of power blocksincludes the difference of the maximum battery cell voltage and theminimum battery cell voltage that is greater than the predeterminedthreshold. In some embodiments, the processor selects the firstpercentage of the power that the first power block of the plurality ofpower blocks is to provide and the second percentage of the power thatthe second power block of the plurality of power blocks is to provide atleast based on determining that the health state of the first powerblock of the plurality of power blocks is greater than the health stateof the second power block of the plurality of power blocks. In someembodiments, the processor selects a third percentage of the power thatthe second power block of the plurality of power blocks is to provide inresponse to determining that the temperature of the second power blockof the plurality of power blocks is greater than the temperature of thefirst power block of the plurality of power blocks, wherein the thirdpercentage of the power is less than the second percentage of the power.In some embodiments, the processor selects the first percentage of thepower that the first power block of the plurality of power blocks is toprovide and the second percentage of the power that the second powerblock of the plurality of power blocks is to provide at least based ondetermining that the first power block of the plurality of power blocksdischarges to the first predetermined threshold and the second powerblock of the plurality of power blocks charges to the secondpredetermined threshold

At operation 550, the processor sends (e.g., via the command generator212) a dispatch command to cause the first power block to provide thefirst percentage of the power and the second power block of to providethe second percentage of the power. In some embodiments, the dispatchcommand causes a third power block (e.g., the power block 102A) to bedisabled such that the first and second power blocks of the areproviding power within the range of percentages of the nameplate powerof the respective power block.

In some embodiments, the processor determines that two power blocks ofthe plurality of power blocks are sufficient to provide power (e.g., tothe load). In some embodiments, the processor select a third percentageof the power that a third power block of the plurality of power blocksis to provide, wherein the third percentage is zero or less. Forexample, the processor selects a third power block to be disabled fromproviding power. In some embodiments, the processor determines thatfirst and second blocks provide a predetermined amount of power. In someembodiments, after (e.g., in response to) determining that the first andsecond blocks provide a predetermined amount of power, the processorchanges the second percentage to zero or less and changes the thirdpercentage to greater than zero. For example, the processor selects thefirst power block and the third power block to provide power and selectsthe second power block to be disabled from providing power. In someembodiments, each power block includes a power conditioning system(e.g., inverter and/or other conditioning components) coupled to thebattery cell and a switch coupled in series with the power conditioningsystem and the at least one battery cell. In some embodiments, themethod 500 includes sending a second dispatch command to couple thefirst power block to the load via a switch of the first power block anddecouple the second power block from the load via a switch of the secondpower block.

In some embodiments, the processor determines an idle period. In someembodiments, the processor determines a power loss during the idleperiod. In some embodiments, the processor selects the first power blockof the plurality of power blocks to provide, during the idle period, afirst power equivalent to the power loss. In some embodiments, theprocessor sends an idle command to cause the plurality of power blocks,except for the first power block of the plurality of power blocks, to bedisabled during the idle period. In some embodiments, the idle commandcan include a command to cause the first power block of the plurality ofpower blocks to provide the first power equivalent to the power loss. Insome embodiments, each power conditioning system is coupled to anauxiliary load panel that powers the power conditioning system. Thepower loss may be due to operation of the auxiliary load panel duringthe idle period.

It is to be understood that any examples used herein are simply forpurposes of explanation and are not intended to be limiting in any way.

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components soassociated can also be viewed as being “operably connected,” or“operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewedas being “operably couplable,” to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically mateable and/or physically interactingcomponents and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interactingcomponents and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactablecomponents.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to disclosures containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood toinclude the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” Further, unlessotherwise noted, the use of the words “approximate,” “about,” “around,”“substantially,” etc., mean plus or minus ten percent.

The foregoing description of illustrative embodiments has been presentedfor purposes of illustration and of description. It is not intended tobe exhaustive or limiting with respect to the precise form disclosed,and modifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosed embodiments.It is intended that the scope of the disclosure be defined by the claimsappended hereto and their equivalents.

What is claimed:
 1. A power distribution optimization system,comprising: a plurality of power blocks, wherein each power block of theplurality of power blocks comprises a power conditioning system and atleast one battery coupled to the power conditioning system; an energymanagement apparatus coupled to the plurality of power blocks, whereinthe energy management apparatus comprises a processor and a memory,wherein the memory comprises programmed instructions that, when executedby the processor, cause the energy management apparatus to: determine anefficiency for each power block of the plurality of power blocks;determine a characteristic for each power block of the plurality ofpower blocks, wherein the characteristic is one or more of thermalbehavior, a health state, a balancing state, forecasted usage, or anoperation cost; determine a power to provide; select a first percentageof the power that a first power block of the plurality of power blocksis to provide and a second percentage of the power that a second powerblock of the plurality of power blocks is to provide at least based onthe efficiency for each power block of the plurality of power blocks,the characteristic for each power block of the plurality of powerblocks, and the power to provide, wherein the first percentage of thepower is greater than the second percentage of the power; and send adispatch command to cause the first power block of the plurality ofpower blocks to provide the first percentage of the power and the secondpower block of the plurality of power blocks to provide the secondpercentage of the power.
 2. The power distribution optimization systemof claim 1, wherein the second percentage of the power is a negativepercentage such that the second power block is to charge.
 3. The powerdistribution optimization system of claim 1, wherein the efficiency is arange of maximum efficiency, and wherein the memory comprises theprogrammed instructions that, when executed by the processor, furthercause the energy management apparatus to: select the first percentage ofthe power at least based on determining that the first power block ofthe plurality of power blocks provides the first percentage of the powerwhile within the range of maximum efficiency.
 4. The power distributionoptimization system of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises theprogrammed instructions that, when executed by the processor, furthercause the energy management apparatus to: determine that a first chargestored by the first power block of the plurality of power blocks isgreater than a second charge stored by the second power block of theplurality of power blocks; and select the first percentage of the powerthat the first power block of the plurality of power blocks is toprovide and the second percentage of the power that the second powerblock of the plurality of power blocks is to provide at least based ondetermining that the first charge stored by the first power block of theplurality of power blocks is greater than the second charge stored bythe second power block of the plurality of power blocks.
 5. The powerdistribution optimization system of claim 1, wherein the memorycomprises the programmed instructions that, when executed by theprocessor, further cause the energy management apparatus to: determinethat the second power block of the plurality of power blocks includes adifference of a maximum battery cell voltage and a minimum battery cellvoltage that is greater than a predetermined threshold; and select thefirst percentage of the power that the first power block of theplurality of power blocks is to provide and the second percentage of thepower that the second power block of the plurality of power blocks is toprovide at least based on determining that the second power block of theplurality of power blocks includes the difference of the maximum batterycell voltage and the minimum battery cell voltage that is greater thanthe predetermined threshold.
 6. The power distribution system of claim1, wherein the memory comprises the programmed instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, further cause the energy management apparatusto: determine that the first power block of the plurality of powerblocks discharges to a first predetermined threshold; determine that thesecond block of the plurality of power blocks charges to a secondpredetermined threshold; and select the first percentage of the powerthat the first power block of the plurality of power blocks is toprovide and the second percentage of the power that the second powerblock of the plurality of power blocks is to provide at least based ondetermining that the first power block of the plurality of power blocksdischarges to the first predetermined threshold and the second powerblock of the plurality of power blocks charges to the secondpredetermined threshold.
 7. The power distribution optimization systemof claim 1, wherein the memory comprises the programmed instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, further cause the energymanagement apparatus to: determine that a health state of the firstpower block of the plurality of power blocks is greater than a healthstate of the second power block of the plurality of power blocks; andselect the first percentage of the power that the first power block ofthe plurality of power blocks is to provide and the second percentage ofthe power that the second power block of the plurality of power blocksis to provide at least based on determining that the health state of thefirst power block of the plurality of power blocks is greater than thehealth state of the second power block of the plurality of power blocks.8. The power distribution optimization system of claim 1, wherein thememory comprises the programmed instructions that, when executed by theprocessor, further cause the energy management apparatus to: determinethat a temperature of the second power block of the plurality of powerblocks is greater than a temperature of the first power block of theplurality of power blocks; and select a third percentage of the powerthat the second power block of the plurality of power blocks is toprovide in response to determining that the temperature of the secondpower block of the plurality of power blocks is greater than thetemperature of the first power block of the plurality of power blocks,wherein the third percentage of the power is less than the secondpercentage of the power.
 9. The power distribution optimization systemof claim 1, wherein the memory comprises the programmed instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, further cause the energymanagement apparatus to: select a third percentage of the power that athird power block of the plurality of power blocks is to provide,wherein the third percentage is zero or less; and after the first andsecond power blocks provide a predetermined amount of power: change thesecond percentage to zero or less; and change the third percentage togreater than zero.
 10. The power distribution optimization system ofclaim 1, wherein the memory comprises the programmed instructions that,when executed by the processor, further cause the energy managementapparatus to: determine a power loss that occurs during an idle period;select the first power block of the plurality of power blocks toprovide, during the idle period, a first power equivalent to the powerloss; and send an idle command to cause the plurality of power blocks,except for the first power block of the plurality of power blocks, to bedisabled during the idle period.
 11. A non-transitory computer readablemedium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, causethe processor to: determine an efficiency for each power block of aplurality of power blocks of a power distribution optimization system;determine a characteristic for each power block of the plurality ofpower blocks, wherein the characteristic is one or more of thermalbehavior, a health state, a balancing state, forecasted usage, or anoperation cost; determine a power to provide; select a first percentageof the power that a first power block of the plurality of power blocksis to provide and a second percentage of the power that a second powerblock of the plurality of power blocks is to provide at least based onthe efficiency for each power block of the plurality of power blocks,the characteristic for each power block of the plurality of powerblocks, and the power to provide, wherein the first percentage of thepower is greater than the second percentage of the power; and send adispatch command to cause the first power block of the plurality ofpower blocks to provide the first percentage of the power and the secondpower block of the plurality of power blocks to provide the secondpercentage of the power.
 12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the secondpercentage of the power is a negative percentage such that the secondpower block is to charge.
 13. The medium of claim 11, wherein theefficiency is a range of maximum efficiency, and wherein the mediumcomprises the instructions that, when executed by the processor, furthercause the processor to: select the first percentage of the power atleast based on determining that the first power block of the pluralityof power blocks provides the first percentage of the power while withinthe range of maximum efficiency.
 14. The medium of claim 11, comprisingthe instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause theprocessor to: determine that a first charge stored by the first powerblock of the plurality of power blocks is greater than a second chargestored by the second power block of the plurality of power blocks; andselect the first percentage of the power that the first power block ofthe plurality of power blocks is to provide and the second percentage ofthe power that the second power block of the plurality of power blocksis to provide at least based on determining that the first charge storedby the first power block of the plurality of power blocks is greaterthan the second charge stored by the second power block of the pluralityof power blocks.
 15. The medium of claim 11, comprising the instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:determine that the second power block of the plurality of power blocksincludes a difference of a maximum battery cell voltage and a minimumbattery cell voltage that is greater than a predetermined threshold; andselect the first percentage of the power that the first power block ofthe plurality of power blocks is to provide and the second percentage ofthe power that the second power block of the plurality of power blocksis to provide at least based on determining that the second power blockof the plurality of power blocks includes the difference of the maximumbattery cell voltage and the minimum battery cell voltage that isgreater than the predetermined threshold.
 16. The medium of claim 11,comprising the instructions that, when executed by the processor,further cause the processor to: determine that the first power block ofthe plurality of power blocks discharges to a first predeterminedthreshold; determine that the second block of the plurality of powerblocks charges to a second predetermined threshold; and select the firstpercentage of the power that the first power block of the plurality ofpower blocks is to provide and the second percentage of the power thatthe second power block of the plurality of power blocks is to provide atleast based on determining that the first power block of the pluralityof power blocks discharges to the first predetermined threshold and thesecond power block of the plurality of power blocks charges to thesecond predetermined threshold.
 17. The medium of claim 11, comprisingthe instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause theprocessor to: determine that a health state of the first power block ofthe plurality of power blocks is greater than a health state of thesecond power block of the plurality of power blocks; and select thefirst percentage of the power that the first power block of theplurality of power blocks is to provide and the second percentage of thepower that the second power block of the plurality of power blocks is toprovide at least based on determining that the health state of the firstpower block of the plurality of power blocks is greater than the healthstate of the second power block of the plurality of power blocks. 18.The medium of claim 11, comprising the instructions that, when executedby the processor, further cause the processor to: determine that atemperature of the second power block of the plurality of power blocksis greater than a temperature of the first power block of the pluralityof power blocks; and select a third percentage of the power that thesecond power block of the plurality of power blocks is to provide inresponse to determining that the temperature of the second power blockof the plurality of power blocks is greater than the temperature of thefirst power block of the plurality of power blocks, wherein the thirdpercentage of the power is less than the second percentage of the power.19. The medium of claim 11, comprising the instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, further cause the processor to: select athird percentage of the power that a third power block of the pluralityof power blocks is to provide, wherein the third percentage is zero orless; and after the first and second power blocks provide apredetermined amount of power: change the second percentage to zero orless; and change the third percentage to greater than zero.
 20. Themedium of claim 11, comprising the instructions that, when executed bythe processor, further cause the processor to: determine a power lossthat occurs during an idle period; select the first power block of theplurality of power blocks to provide, during the idle period, a firstpower equivalent to the power loss; and send an idle command to causethe plurality of power blocks, except for the first power block of theplurality of power blocks, to be disabled during the idle period.
 21. Amethod comprising: determining, by a processor, an efficiency for eachpower block of a plurality of power blocks of a power distributionoptimization system; determining, by the processor, a characteristic foreach power block of the plurality of power blocks, wherein thecharacteristic is one or more of thermal behavior, a health state, abalancing state, forecasted usage, or an operation cost; determining, bythe processor, a power to provide; selecting, by the processor, a firstpercentage of the power that a first power block of the plurality ofpower blocks is to provide and a second percentage of the power that asecond power block of the plurality of power blocks is to provide atleast based on the efficiency for each power block of the plurality ofpower blocks, the characteristic for each power block of the pluralityof power blocks, and the power to provide, wherein the first percentageof the power is greater than the second percentage of the power; andsending, by the processor, a dispatch command to cause the first powerblock of the plurality of power blocks to provide the first percentageof the power and the second power block of the plurality of power blocksto provide the second percentage of the power.
 22. The method of claim21, wherein the second percentage of the power is a negative percentagesuch that the second power block is to charge.
 23. The method of claim21, wherein the efficiency is a range of maximum efficiency, the methodfurther comprising: selecting, by the processor, the first percentage ofthe power at least based on determining that the first power block ofthe plurality of power blocks provides the first percentage of the powerwhile within the range of maximum efficiency.
 24. The method of claim21, further comprising: determining, by the processor, that a firstcharge stored by the first power block of the plurality of power blocksis greater than a second charge stored by the second power block of theplurality of power blocks; and selecting, by the processor, the firstpercentage of the power that the first power block of the plurality ofpower blocks is to provide and the second percentage of the power thatthe second power block of the plurality of power blocks is to provide atleast based on determining that the first charge stored by the firstpower block of the plurality of power blocks is greater than the secondcharge stored by the second power block of the plurality of powerblocks.
 25. The method of claim 21, further comprising: determining, bythe processor, that the second power block of the plurality of powerblocks includes a difference of a maximum battery cell voltage and aminimum battery cell voltage that is greater than a predeterminedthreshold; and selecting, by the processor, the first percentage of thepower that the first power block of the plurality of power blocks is toprovide and the second percentage of the power that the second powerblock of the plurality of power blocks is to provide at least based ondetermining that the second power block of the plurality of power blocksincludes the difference of the maximum battery cell voltage and theminimum battery cell voltage that is greater than the predeterminedthreshold.
 26. The method of claim 21, further comprising: determining,by the processor, that the first power block of the plurality of powerblocks discharges to a first predetermined threshold; determining, bythe processor, that the second block of the plurality of power blockscharges to a second predetermined threshold; and selecting, by theprocessor, the first percentage of the power that the first power blockof the plurality of power blocks is to provide and the second percentageof the power that the second power block of the plurality of powerblocks is to provide at least based on determining that the first powerblock of the plurality of power blocks discharges to the firstpredetermined threshold and the second power block of the plurality ofpower blocks charges to the second predetermined threshold.
 27. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising: determining, by the processor,that a health state of the first power block of the plurality of powerblocks is greater than a health state of the second power block of theplurality of power blocks; and selecting, by the processor, the firstpercentage of the power that the first power block of the plurality ofpower blocks is to provide and the second percentage of the power thatthe second power block of the plurality of power blocks is to provide atleast based on determining that the health state of the first powerblock of the plurality of power blocks is greater than the health stateof the second power block of the plurality of power blocks.
 28. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising: determining, by the processor,that a temperature of the second power block of the plurality of powerblocks is greater than a temperature of the first power block of theplurality of power blocks; and selecting, by the processor, a thirdpercentage of the power that the second power block of the plurality ofpower blocks is to provide in response to determining that thetemperature of the second power block of the plurality of power blocksis greater than the temperature of the first power block of theplurality of power blocks, wherein the third percentage of the power isless than the second percentage of the power.
 29. The method of claim21, further comprising: selecting, by the processor, a third percentageof the power that a third power block of the plurality of power blocksis to provide, wherein the third percentage is zero or less; and afterthe first and second power blocks provide a predetermined amount ofpower: changing, by the processor, the second percentage to zero orless; and changing, by the processor, the third percentage to greaterthan zero.
 30. The method of claim 21, further comprising: determining,by the processor, a power loss that occurs during an idle period;selecting, by the processor, the first power block of the plurality ofpower blocks to provide, during the idle period, a first powerequivalent to the power loss; and send an idle command to cause theplurality of power blocks, except for the first power block of theplurality of power blocks, to be disabled during the idle period.